Mid Sierra Musings: Back To The Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains

Dale Matson

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(L) Mt. Tinemaha and (R) Birch Mountains At Sunset

Folks who live in Fresno have wonderful choices in going west to the central coast for gorgeous ocean views or east to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While most Fresnans prefer the coast and while we enjoy our stays there, we prefer the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains along the Highway 395 corridor from Yosemite south to Lone Pine. Getting to the Sierra from our side on foot is quite an effort these days. It is a three-hour drive just to get to trailheads at Edison or Florence Lakes.

We were on the east side this past week for a two day visit with an overnight stay in Bishop CA. It seems like this scenic corridor between the Sierra Nevada and the White and Inyo Mountains is inexhaustible in its variety and splendor. This was our last trip of the year and we took the longer way around via Highway 99 south over Tehachapi connecting to Highway 395 via Highway 14. This route put us in Lone Pine in just over 4 hours. This gave me sunset shots on day one and sunrise shots on day two before working our way south and back home. The seasonal and scenic route through Yosemite (Highway 120) is closed for the year.

On a personal note, this has been a year of difficult age-related health setbacks but in consolation, some of the best views yet discovered. I am truly thankful that my health recovered to the extent that it has and no longer take things for granted as I once did.

Sharon and I had a wonderful overnight at Big McGee Lake surrounded by snow in August. Our epic day hike to the pond below Split Mountain was a realized dream of many years. I also had two wonderful day hikes with a younger and patient Annie Ortmeyer. We braved the drive up the Laurel Lakes Trail to hike to and beyond beautiful Lake Genevieve which lays above Convict Lake. Our trip out in a snowstorm was a white-knuckle adventure with Annie taking cellphone video in between stepping out of my truck to help guide us around boulders. Our last hike of the season to Tamarack and Buck Lakes was also rewarded with elegant views even though we only saw sign of Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep in their summer range.

The two days Sharon and I roamed the 395-corridor offered both landscape and wildlife opportunities. As usual, our friend in Bishop Steve Yeager took time to show us some local wildlife and helped us look for sheep above Rovana.

The photographs were with my new Sony A7R3. I used my 16-35mm and 24-70mm GM lenses in additional to my 100-400mm GM lens for the wildlife shots and some landscapes.

I have dropped some ideas into my bucket list for next year God willing. Most are based on hikes I have taken previously and want to dig a tad further into the mother lode of beauty. The eagles are returning to Millerton Lake on their seasonal migration and I hope to get better photos this year. Thanks for coming along on our adventures and I wish you God’s blessings and all the best for the coming new year.

Dale+